New Year's Eve Chess Tactic

Black to move. How should Black proceed?

Source: ChessToday.net

Tal defeating Kasparov in his last tournament

Tal beating Kasparov at Moscow Blitz, his last tournament shortly before he passed away.

Back at one

January 2011 top players (2700 and above)

Rank	Name	Title	Country	Rating	Games	B-Year
1	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2814	17	1990
2	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2810	17	1969
3	Aronian, Levon	g	ARM	2805	9	1982
4	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2784	16	1975
5	Karjakin, Sergey	g	RUS	2776	20	1990
6	Topalov, Veselin	g	BUL	2775	10	1975
7	Grischuk, Alexander	g	RUS	2773	20	1983
8	Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	g	AZE	2772	9	1985
9	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2764	0	1969
10	Nakamura, Hikaru	g	USA	2751	16	1987
11	Ponomariov, Ruslan	g	UKR	2744	0	1983
12	Radjabov, Teimour	g	AZE	2744	0	1987
13	Gashimov, Vugar	g	AZE	2736	10	1986
14	Wang, Yue	g	CHN	2734	21	1987
15	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	g	RUS	2733	11	1990
16	Gelfand, Boris	g	ISR	2733	9	1968
17	Wang, Hao	g	CHN	2731	33	1989
18	Svidler, Peter	g	RUS	2730	11	1976
19	Kamsky, Gata	g	USA	2730	6	1974
20	Wojtaszek, Radoslaw	g	POL	2726	0	1987
21	Eljanov, Pavel	g	UKR	2724	9	1983
22	Bacrot, Etienne	g	FRA	2723	10	1983
23	Adams, Michael	g	ENG	2723	7	1971
24	Shirov, Alexei	g	ESP	2722	15	1972
25	Caruana, Fabiano	g	ITA	2721	18	1992
26	Movsesian, Sergei	g	ARM	2721	0	1978
27	Almasi, Zoltan	g	HUN	2719	10	1976
28	Jakovenko, Dmitry	g	RUS	2718	11	1983
29	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2717	0	1979
30	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	g	CUB	2716	0	1983
31	Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime	g	FRA	2715	6	1990
32	Malakhov, Vladimir	g	RUS	2714	14	1980
33	Vitiugov, Nikita	g	RUS	2709	11	1987
34	Navara, David	g	CZE	2708	0	1985
35	Fressinet, Laurent	g	FRA	2707	15	1981
36	Jobava, Baadur	g	GEO	2707	0	1983
37	Alekseev, Evgeny	g	RUS	2701	0	1985
38	Efimenko, Zahar	g	UKR	2701	0	1985
39	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2700	0	1977

Full top list here: http://ratings.fide.com/top.phtml?list=men

Top women (2500 and above)

Rank	Name	Title	Country	Rating	Games	B-Year
1	Polgar, Judit	g	HUN	2686	0	1976
2	Koneru, Humpy	g	IND	2607	18	1987
3	Hou, Yifan	g	CHN	2602	23	1994
4	Kosintseva, Tatiana	g	RUS	2570	15	1986
5	Kosintseva, Nadezhda	m	RUS	2552	11	1985
6	Dzagnidze, Nana	g	GEO	2550	4	1987
7	Stefanova, Antoaneta	g	BUL	2546	4	1979
8	Muzychuk, Anna	m	SLO	2529	6	1990
9	Cmilyte, Viktorija	g	LTU	2526	14	1983
10	Harika, Dronavalli	m	IND	2520	16	1991
11	Lahno, Kateryna	g	UKR	2518	8	1989
12	Cramling, Pia	g	SWE	2516	4	1963
13	Ju, Wenjun	wg	CHN	2514	17	1991
14	Chiburdanidze, Maia	g	GEO	2502	4	1961

First time at the top

Top Junior (1-1-2011)

1	Caruana, Fabiano	g	ITA	2721	18	1992
2	Giri, Anish	g	NED	2686	7	1994
3	So, Wesley	g	PHI	2673	18	1993
4	Le, Quang Liem	g	VIE	2664	5	1991
5	Feller, Sebastien	g	FRA	2657	0	1991
6	Kovalyov, Anton	g	ARG	2629	10	1992
7	Safarli, Eltaj	g	AZE	2629	9	1992
8	Salgado Lopez, Ivan	g	ESP	2626	9	1991
9	Sjugirov, Sanan	g	RUS	2626	0	1993
10	Matlakov, Maxim	g	RUS	2616	9	1991
11	Negi, Parimarjan	g	IND	2607	22	1993
12	Yu, Yangyi	g	CHN	2607	18	1994
13	Hou, Yifan	g	CHN	2602	23	1994
14	Hess, Robert L	g	USA	2572	10	1991
15	Cordova, Emilio	g	PER	2567	30	1991
16	Nabaty, Tamir	m	ISR	2565	18	1991
17	Zherebukh, Yaroslav	g	UKR	2565	9	1993
18	Ter-Sahakyan, Samvel	g	ARM	2560	11	1993
19	Sethuraman, S.P.	m	IND	2545	33	1993
20	Prohaszka, Peter	g	HUN	2542	17	1992

Top girls

Rank	Name	Title	Country	Rating	Games	B-Year
1	Hou, Yifan	g	CHN	2602	23	1994
2	Harika, Dronavalli	m	IND	2520	16	1991
3	Ju, Wenjun	wg	CHN	2514	17	1991
4	Muzychuk, Mariya	m	UKR	2476	6	1992
5	Paikidze, Nazi	wg	GEO	2455	20	1993
6	Girya, Olga	wg	RUS	2429	11	1991
7	Tan, Zhongyi	wg	CHN	2428	3	1991
8	Bodnaruk, Anastasia	m	RUS	2425	20	1992
9	Savina, Anastasia	wg	RUS	2397	0	1992
10	Cori T., Deysi	wg	PER	2386	22	1993
11	Sukandar, Irine Kharisma	wg	INA	2382	0	1992
12	Ding, Yixin	wg	CHN	2376	5	1991
13	Padmini, Rout	wg	IND	2336	13	1994
14	Pustovoitova, Daria	f	RUS	2331	7	1994
15	Guramishvili, Sopiko	wg	GEO	2330	9	1991
16	Kashlinskaya, Alina	wg	RUS	2327	0	1993
17	Soloviova, Liza	wg	UKR	2318	9	1993
18	Arabidze, Meri	wm	GEO	2315	28	1994
19	Ziaziulkina, Nastassia	wm	BLR	2301	19	1995
20	Kazimova, Narmin Nizami qizi	wm	AZE	2298	11	1993

Singapore International Chess Festival 2010

Singapore International Chess Festival 2010 – Closing Ceremony

In a simple prize presentation ceremony, winners were awarded their respective medals and cash prizes from the organizers bringing down the curtains to the successful 7th Singapore International Chess Festival. The last event for the Festival is the annual Singapore – Malaysia Chess Challenge 2011 which will similarly take place at the Stansfield Residence 1 from 31 December 2010 to 1 January 2011.

The traditional match is played on a very cordial and personal basis but the match continues to be keenly contested with each side not prepared to go down without a fight. The winning margin for edition 2010 was a single point separating the two sides with Singapore winning. The ‘tigers’ from Malaysia are hoping to score a convincing victory as a farewell gift for Malaysian Chess Federation retiring Deputy President Haji Ibrahim Bakar.

New ‘Singaporean’ GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili took the inaugural ASEAN Championship tied on points with IM Barbosa Oliver from the Philippines but won on tie-break. Indonesian GM Megaranto Susanto was half a point behind winning the bronze medal. As reported earlier, the very strong Vietnamese women team steamrolled their way on and captured all top three medals on offer. WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An, WGM Hoang Thi Bao Tram and WGM Le Thanh Tu finished in that order respectively.

In the Singapore Open Tournament, GM Wen Yang from China also confirmed his superiority by winning the top prize with Philippines GM Villamayor Buenaventura and unheralded and untitled Nebato Sheider wining the bronze medal and at the same time won a IM norm. Vietnamese FM Nguyen Van Huy also successful in winning a IM Norm.

In the inaugural International Youth Championships, Vietnam took away three titles in WFM Le Tran Phuong Yuen (Girls’ U8), FM Le Tuan Minh (Open Under 14) and FM Nguyen Van Hai (Open Under 17). The Malaysian finished creditably behind Vietnam with Wong Yinn Long (Open Under 8) and WCM Nur Nabila Azman Hisham (Girls’ Under 14). Singapore’s FM Tin Jingyao was best in the Open Under 11 Championship and Asia’s powerhouse, India, had Tejaswini Sagar capturing the gold medal in the Girls’ Under 11 tournament to salvage some minor lost pride. However, India recorded having the youngest player in Sagar Siya just tipping the scale at 3 years 10 months in the Open Under 8 section.

The festival took place at the Stansfield Residence 1 which is a student hostel for international students. For the duration of the Festival, the hostel was packed to the brim and some of the participants had to be turned away. Stansfield Residence Hostel Manager Mr Sharin Said working together with the Singapore Chess Federation’s General Secretary, Mr Osric Mooi also had their hands full tending to the needs of the more than 600 participants and their supporters.

It has been an eventful 2010 for all as foreign participants depart timely to ring in the new year and a more successful and fruitful 2011. Happy New Year.

Report by Tournament Director Chan Boon Siang

Vallejo Pons wins again, extends Reggio Emilia lead

Standings after 4 rounds

Naz.	Giocatore	ELO	Totali
ENG	Short Nigel	2680	2
RUS	Morozevich Alexander	2700	1 + 1 game
ITA	Caruana Fabiano	2709	2
ESP	Vallejo Pons Francisco	2698	3,5
USA	Onischuk Alexander	2683	2
SVK	Movsesian Sergei	2721	2
ITA	Godena Michele	2549	1
UKR	Ivanchuk Vassily	2764	2
CZE	Navara David	2708	1,5 + 1 game
AZE	Gashimov Vugar	2733	2

http://www.ippogrifoscacchi.it/tablaGeneral.asp?iTorneoIppogrifo=25

Happy New Year!

I would like to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous 2011!

Happy New Year!

Reggio Emilia LIVE - Round 4

Live chess broadcast powered by ChessBomb and Chessdom

4 titles for Texas Tech at 2010 PanAm

Texas Tech B team (L to R: Chase Watters, Josh Osbourn, Brian Cassidy, Rebecca Lelko, John Flores) tied for 1st at the 2010 PanAm Intercollegiate Division II Championship with Miami Dade!



Texas Tech C team (L to R: Mara Diamant, Ananya Roy, Zach Haskin, Brett James) tied for 1st at the 2010 PanAm Intercollegiate Division IV Championship with Yale.

Texas Tech A team (GM Davorin Kuljasevic, GM Andre Diamant, GM Anatoly Bykhovsky, IM Istvan Sipos) qualified for the Final Four again. They will face UTD, UTB, and UMBC in April for the President's Cup.

GM Andre Diamant tied with GM Erenburg for best individual performance on board 2. GM Anatoly Bykhovsky got the best individual performance on board 3.

Reggio Emilia Chess Tactic

White to move. How should White proceed?

Source: ChessToday.net

Vallejo Pons leads Reggio Emilia

Standings after 3 rounds

1.	Vallejo Pons, Francisco	g	ESP	2698	2½
2.	Short, Nigel	g	ENG	2680	2
3.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2764	1½
4.	Caruana, Fabiano	g	ITA	2709	1½
5.	Onischuk, Alexander	g	USA	2683	1½
6.	Movsesian, Sergei	g	SVK	2721	1½
7.	Navara, David	g	CZE	2708	1
8.	Godena, Michele	g	ITA	2549	1
9.	Gashimov, Vugar	g	AZE	2733	1
10.	Morozevich, Alexander	g	RUS	2700	½

http://www.ippogrifoscacchi.it/tablaGeneral.asp?iTorneoIppogrifo=25

2 lead Rilton Cup

Leaders after 4 rounds

Ст.ном		Имя	ФЕД.	Рейт.	Очки
1	GM	Naiditsch Arkadij	GER	2685	4,0
	GM	Grandelius Nils	SWE	2525	4,0
3	GM	Volkov Sergey	RUS	2594	3,5
	GM	Shimanov Aleksandr	RUS	2516	3,5
5	IM	Smith Axel	SWE	2448	3,5
6	GM	Tikkanen Hans	SWE	2550	3,0
7	GM	Berczes David	HUN	2526	3,0
8	GM	Sokolov Ivan	NED	2642	3,0
	GM	Macieja Bartlomiej	POL	2636	3,0
	GM	Hillarp Persson Tiger	SWE	2528	3,0
11	IM	Semcesen Daniel	SWE	2449	3,0
12	IM	Furhoff Johan	SWE	2365	3,0

Full standings: http://chess-results.com/tnr42335.aspx?art=1&rd=4&lan=11&flag=30&m=-1&wi=1000

2 lead Hastings

Leaders after 3 rounds

Rank	Name	Flags	Score	Fed.	M/F	Rating	TPR	W-We	1	2	3
1	GM HOWELL, David W L		3.0	ENG	M	2611	3104	+0.62	1	1	1
2	GM NEVEROV, Valeriy		3.0	UKR	M	2522	3053	+0.72	1	1	1
3	GM ISTRATESCU, Andrei		2.5	ROU	M	2616	2631	+0.06	1	½	1
4	GM WILLIAMS, Simon K		2.5	ENG	M	2493	2497	+0.06	½	1	1
5	GM GORMALLY, Daniel W		2.5	ENG	M	2470	2566	+0.31	1	½	1
6	IM PERT, Richard G		2.5	ENG	M	2464	2541	+0.24	1	1	½
7	IM SHYAM, Sundar M		2.5	IND	M	2439	2543	+0.33	1	½	1
8	IM WOHL, Aleksandar H		2.5	AUS	M	2424	2614	+0.69	1	½	1
9	IM RENDLE, Thomas E		2.5	ENG	M	2400	2602	+0.73	1	½	1
10	FM EGGLESTON, David J		2.5	ENG	M	2307	2635	+1.22	1	1	½
11	GM EDOUARD, Romain		2.0	FRA	M	2636	2469	-0.53	1	½	½
12	GM HEBDEN, Mark L		2.0	ENG	M	2560	2319	-0.69	0	1	1
13	GM SENGUPTA, Deep		2.0	IND	M	2558	2387	-0.51	1	0	1
14	IM DAS Arghyadip		2.0	IND	M	2476	2277	-0.51	1	0	1
15	GM SUMMERSCALE, Aaron P		2.0	ENG	M	2434	2339	-0.32	½	1	½
16	IM RAMNATH, Bhuvanesh R		2.0	IND	M	2427	2474	+0.20	1	1	0
17	ANWESH, Upadhyaya		2.0	IND	M	2426	2273	-0.50	0	1	1
18	IM SWAPNIL, S Dhopade		2.0	IND	M	2409	2397	+0.07	1	0	1
19	IM PRASANNA, Rao		2.0	IND	M	2400	2596	+0.78	1	1	0
20	IM BATES, Richard A		2.0	ENG	M	2370	2547	+0.70	1	1	0

Full standings here: http://www.hastingschess.org.uk/2011/SMWSite/index.html

Reggio Emilia round 3 report

Reggio Emilia round 3 report

Thursday December 30th 2010

The match Caruana against Short is already becoming a classic in tournaments , we can remember the dramatic game in corus B 2009 that qualified Fabiano to play the A on 2010. Will Fabiano know how to stop the “on fire” GM. The opening seem a quiet French-tarrash
variation and around move 21 the game become very alive with an f5 played by black that seem to weaken the kingside but opens the position and after some exchanges Fabiano enters in a queen endgame with an advantage and was able to collect the whole point.

Movsesisan –Godena is a theoric encounter in Michele “ pet line” . The Armenian GM ( from today he returns to represent Armenia) at move 15 decided to change and went for Na3 instead of 15. Qg3. It was a very complicated game but during the time pressure many pieces were exchange and at the end Godena was a pawn up but it seems it was not enough advantage to win.

Paco is inspired ! In the opening his queen takes the b7 pawn that seems a bit poison, but with an exchange sacrifice his keeps the possibility to attack and finally has the chance to play 27.Rxg7 that forces Navara into a very inferior endgame. In analisis room both players gave great commentaries. And now he leads with 2.5 out of 3

Onischuk and Ivanchuk made a draw. The American GM seem to have an advantage but it was not sufficient to win, but in the postmortem there was an interesting move Rc1 instead of c5.

Morozevich-Gashimov was a very long battle, seem during the game Morozevich had an slight advantage but it was a very close position but after five long hours playing the scenary changes a bit and now it seems Gashimov stands slightly better but maybe not enough to win. And draw was agreed after six hours of combativity.

http://www.ippogrifoscacchi.it/tablaGeneral.asp?iTorneoIppogrifo=25

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Video interview with Ivanchuk and Caruana